Adjustable bed for power presses



(m. 14, 1930. N. w. DORMAN EFAL 1,778,486

ADJUSTABLE BED FOR POWER PRESSES Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnvcntou, 714d #M%iw A4 I attoz ueqd Oct. 14, 1930. N. w. DORMAN ET AL ADJUSTABLE BED FOR POWER PRESSES Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEAL W. DORMAN, ARTHUR H. SCHLOZ, AND MEREDITH R. HATCH, OF TOLEDO, OHIO,

ASSIGNORS TO THE TOLEDO MACHINE & .PORATION OF OHIO TOOL COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A. 003- ADJUSTABLE BED FOR POWER PRESSES Application filed July 28,

This invention relates to an adjustable bed for power presses of the type used in metal drawing, which makes it possible to adapt the press for gaging different kinds of work without using any blocks and. without any adjustment of the slide or plunger.

One important object of the invention is to arrange the adjustable supporting means for the bed, which must withstand all the pressure exerted by the press, in such a manner as to cause the least possible strain on' the frame. The larger. presses usually have a built up frame, held together by vertical tie rods, and in applying our invention thereto, the adjusting screws at each end of the bed are located closely adjacent the tie rods and in the same plane therewith. Thus at each corner the force exerted against the bed is almost in the same line as the pull against the tie rod and there is almost no bending strain imposed upon the frame.

The invention also includes a sub-frame member of improved construction, with mechanism mounted therein for operating the adjustable supporting means.

The objects and advantages of the invention and the specific details of construction will be more particularly explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevationof the lower part of a power press constructed in accorda ance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof with parts broken-away and shown in section.

Fig. 3 .is -a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.'

The invention, in its present embodiment,

. is shown in connection with a metal drawing power press having a built up frame, includ ing base members 5 and uprights 6, through which extenclvertical tie rods 7. A slide 8 a is guided vertically between the uprights 6.

1928- Serial No. 296,020..

position, it is substantially level with the floor lineindicated at 12.

The bed 11 is formed at eachcorner with a seat 13 to which is secured the flanged head 14 of a Vertically depending screw 15. A complementary screw threaded member in the form of an internally threaded bushing 16 receives the screw 15. The bushing 16 is rotatably mounted in and extending vertically through the base member 5 and is formed at its upper end with a flange 17 which rests on wear plates or washers 18. The lower partof the bushing is relieved from engagement with the screw, as shown at 19, in order to reduce. friction when the screw is near its lowest position.

The bushings 16 are all rotated simultaneously to raise or lower the bed 11. For this purpose the lower end of each bushing 16 has a bevel gear 20 secured thereto and the gears 20- are connected in pairs by shafts 21 having bevel pinions 22 at the ends which mesh with the respective gears. The shafts 21 are mounted in bearin 23 depending from the sub-frame 9.

Each shaft 21 has a bevel gear 24 secured thereto, preferably midway of its length.

This gear 24meshes with a pinion 25 secured the lower end of each shaft 26 there is secured a bevel gear 28 which is in mesh with a bevel pinion 29, both of these pinions 29 being-secured to a common shaft 30 which is journaled'in a member 31 secured to the brackets 27. A gear 32 is secured to the shaft 30 and is driven from a pinion 33 secured to a shaft 34. A gear 35 is secured to the shaft 34 and is driven by a pinion .36 from a motor 37 which is mounted on a bracket 38 depending from the sub-frame 9.

Whenever the bed '11 I is .adjusted to the desired position, it is securely clamped in that posit-i on by suitable means provided for that purpose. In the present instance this clamping means comprises cribs 39 which are se- From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the bed 11 is supported erectly by means of the screws 15, and whenever the motor 37 is operated to raise or lower the bed, all of the bushings 16 are rotated simultaneously and equally. At each end of the press the screws 15 are closely adjacent to the respective tie rods 7 and are all disposed in the same transverse plane, which is along the center line of the frame member 5. There is therefore, very little bending strain on the member 5 when the press is operating.

While it is desirable to locate the gears 32 and 24 substantially midway between the ends of their respective shafts, in order to equalize the driving torque when the bedis adjusted, the invention is by no means limited to such construction. The invention is also ap licable to a solid frame construction.

It will also be apparent that many of the details of the invention may be considerably modified without any material departure from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim is:

1. In a power press, the combination of a frame, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment therein, vertical screw threaded members secured in depending relation to the bed at the respective corners thereof, complementary screw threaded members rotatably supported in operative relation tothe first mentioned members respectivelv, two shafts at opposite sides of the bed, each of said shafts being indriving relationto two of said complemen-' tary members, a common drive shaft geared to sald two shafts substantially midway between their ends, means for actuating said common drive shaft to adjust the bed up or down, and-a slide guided for vertical recip- {)oeiatory movement above said adjustable 2 In a power press, the combination of a main frame, a bed mounted for verticaladjustment therein, asub frame beneath said .bed and rigidly connecting the sides of the main frame, screw adjusting means at each corner of the bed and'comprising male and female members. one member ofeach pair being secured to the bed and the other member being rotatabl mounted in the sub-frame,

interconnected gearing beneath the subframe and in driving relation to said rotatably mounted membersymeans for driving said gearing to adjust the bed'up or down,

and a slide guided for vertical reciprocatory movement above said adjustable bed. I 3. In a power press, the combination of a main frame, a bed mounted 'for vertical adjustment therein, a sub-frame beneath said .bed and rigidly connecting the sides of the main frame, screw adjusting means at each corner of thebed and comprising male and' female members, one member of each pair bemg secured to the bed and the other member bemg rotatably mounted in the sub-frame,

shafts and gearing beneath the sub-frame and operatively connecting said rotatably mounted members in pairs and in driving relation thereto, driving means connected to said shafts to drive them simultaneously to adjust the bed up or down,-and a slide guided for vertical reciprocatory-movement' above said adjustable beds 4. In a power press, the combination of a main frame, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment therein, a sub-frame beneathsaid bed-and rigidly connecting the sidesof the main frame, screw adjusting means at each 3 5; In a power press, the combination of a built. up frame having vertical tie rods in each'end thereof, a bed mounted for vertlcal adjustment between the ends of the frame,

vertical screw threaded members secured in depending relation to the bed at each end thereof and adjacent the respective t1e rods, complementary screw threaded members rotatably supported in operative relation to said first mentioned members respectively, interconnected gearing supported beneath the bed and connected in driving relation to said complementary members, and means for driving said gearing to adjust the bed up or down, the threaded members. and the t1e rods at either end of the press being all in the same transverse plane.

6, In a power press, \the combinatlon of a built up frame having vertical t1e rods 1n each end thereof, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment between the ends of the frame,

vertical screw threaded members securedin depending relation to the bed at the respective corners thereof and ad acent the respective tie rods, cbmplementary screw threaded I members rotatably supported in operative relation to the first mentioned members respectively, shafts and gearing operatively connecting said complementary members in pairs and in driving relation thereto, and driving means connected to .said' shafts to drive them simultaneously to adjust the bed up or down, the threaded members and the tie rods at either end of the the same transverse plane.

press being all in 7. In a power press, thecoinbination of a built up frame having vertical tie rodsin each end thereof, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment between the ends of the frame, vertical screw threaded members secured in depending relation to the bed at the respective corners thereof and adjacent the respective tie rods, complementary screw threaded members rotatably supported in operative relation to. the first mentioned members respectively, connecting shafts and gearing operatively connecting said complementary members in pairs and in driving relation thereto, a common drive shaft geared to said connecting shaftssubstantially midway between their ends, and means for actuating said drive shaft to adjust the bed up or down, the threaded members and the tie rods at either end of the press being all in the same transverse plane.

8. In a power press, the combination of a built up frame having vertical tie rodsan each end thereof, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment between the ends of the frame, a sub-frame beneath said bed and rigidly connecting the end members of the main frame, screw adjusting means at each corner of the bed and comprising male and female members, one member of each pair being secured to the bed adjacent the respective tie rod and the other member being rotatably mounted'in the sub-frame, interconnected gearing in driving relation to said rotatably mounted 7 members, and means for driving said gearing to adjust the bed up or down, the screw adjusting members and the tie rods ateither end of the press being all in the same transverse plane.

9. In a power press, the combination of a built up frame having vertical tie rods in each end thereof, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment between the ends of the frame, a sub-frame beneath said bed and rigidly connecting the end members of the main frame, screw adjusting means at each corner of the bed and comprising male and female members, one member of each pair being secured to the bed adjacent the respective tie rod and the other member being rotatably mountbeing secured to the bed adjacent the respective tie rod andthe other member being rotatably mounted in the sub-frame, connected in the sub-frame, shafts and gearing operatively connecting said rotatably mounted members in pairs and in driving relation thereto, and driving means connected to said shafts to drive them simultaneously to adjust the bed up or down, said screw adjusting means and the tie rods at either end of the press being all in the same transverse plane.

10. In a ower press, the combination of a built up rame having vertical tie rods'in each end thereof, a bed mounted for vertical adjustment between the ends of the frame, a sub-frame beneath said bed and rigidly connecting the end members of the main frame, screw adjusting means at, each corner of the bed and comprising male and female members, one member of each pair ing shafts and gearing mounted in the subframe and operatively connecting said rotatably mounted members in pairs and in driving relation thereto, a common drive shaft journaled in the sub-frame and geared to said connecting shafts substantially midway between their ends, and means for actuating said drive shaft to adjust the bed up or down, the screw adjusting means and the tie rods at either end of the press being all in the same transverse plane.

11. In a power press, the combination of a main frame including vertical spaced uprights, a bed guided for vertical adjustment between said uprights, screw threaded means for effecting the adjustment of the bed, gibs associated with the bed, and means for securing sa'id gibs to clamp the bed to the uprights, after the bed has been adjusted to the desired position.

12. In a power press, the combination of a main frame including vertical spaced uprights, a'bed guided for vertical adjustment between said uprights, said uprights having vertical channels formed therein, gibs associated with said bed and engageable with the uprights, and means carried by the gibs for clamping the same to the bed and to the uprights, whereby to secure the bed in any position to which it may be adjusted.

Intestimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification. NEAL W. DORMAN. "ARTHUR H. SCHLOZ.

MEREDITH R. HATCH. 

